Vairkko Bloghttps://www.vairkko.com/blog
The VAIRKKO Suite offers cloud based workforce and operations management software including employee scheduling, certification tracking, personnel management (HRIS), fleet management, online training and much more.en-usTue, 23 Apr 2019 13:25:07 GMT2019-04-23T13:25:07Zen-us3 Benefits of Adopting Performance Management Softwarehttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/3-benefits-of-adopting-performance-management-software
<div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/3-benefits-of-adopting-performance-management-software" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/startup%20business,%20software%20developer%20working%20on%20desktop%20%20computer%20at%20modern%20office-1.jpeg" alt="Looking at statistics from Performance Management Software" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<p>Software solutions are popping up everywhere, for almost every process imaginable. While sometimes software can get a bad rep, that it might replace a workers job, there’s a different way to look at it: it helps every worker accomplish more. Most software solutions are designed to aid a worker, not replace them. In the case of Human Resources software, these solutions are designed to handle tasks that are necessary while creating time for the human resources professional and managers to complete tasks that need human interaction and decision-making capabilities.</p><div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/3-benefits-of-adopting-performance-management-software" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/startup%20business,%20software%20developer%20working%20on%20desktop%20%20computer%20at%20modern%20office-1.jpeg" alt="Looking at statistics from Performance Management Software" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<p>Software solutions are popping up everywhere, for almost every process imaginable. While sometimes software can get a bad rep, that it might replace a workers job, there’s a different way to look at it: it helps every worker accomplish more. Most software solutions are designed to aid a worker, not replace them. In the case of Human Resources software, these solutions are designed to handle tasks that are necessary while creating time for the human resources professional and managers to complete tasks that need human interaction and decision-making capabilities.</p>
<img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=3835279&amp;k=14&amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vairkko.com%2Fblog%2F3-benefits-of-adopting-performance-management-software&amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.vairkko.com%252Fblog&amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; ">Tue, 23 Apr 2019 13:25:00 GMThttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/3-benefits-of-adopting-performance-management-software2019-04-23T13:25:00ZVAIRKKOTalent Management in 140 Characters or Lesshttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/talent-management-in-140-characters-or-less
<div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/talent-management-in-140-characters-or-less" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Multi%20ethnic%20business%20team%20at%20a%20meeting.%20Interacting.%20Focus%20on%20woman-1.jpeg" alt="Team reviewing performance appraisals" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<p>The next terminology in our tweetable series: Talent Management. We’ll sum this up in 140 characters or less so you can make a mental note and move on. Who has time for long blog posts on one concept?</p><div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/talent-management-in-140-characters-or-less" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Multi%20ethnic%20business%20team%20at%20a%20meeting.%20Interacting.%20Focus%20on%20woman-1.jpeg" alt="Team reviewing performance appraisals" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<p>The next terminology in our tweetable series: Talent Management. We’ll sum this up in 140 characters or less so you can make a mental note and move on. Who has time for long blog posts on one concept?</p>
<img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=3835279&amp;k=14&amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vairkko.com%2Fblog%2Ftalent-management-in-140-characters-or-less&amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.vairkko.com%252Fblog&amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; ">Tue, 16 Apr 2019 13:30:00 GMThttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/talent-management-in-140-characters-or-less2019-04-16T13:30:00ZVAIRKKO360-Degree Feedback: The Full Circlehttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/360-degree-feedback-the-full-circle
<div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/360-degree-feedback-the-full-circle" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Young%20partners%20discussing%20in%20meeting%20at%20creative%20office.jpeg" alt="Team working together to discuss performance reviews for their 360-degree review" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<p>When organizations first began the process of performance evaluations or appraisals, the feedback typically flows from the top-down and ends there. Supervisors provide feedback to their direct reports, often times individual contributors. This leaves a lot to be desired, not only is the expectation that the supervisor has a thorough grasp on the work that the subordinate does (and remembers it), but the supervisor is also left unchecked for how the working relationship is going from the viewpoint of the subordinate. The aforementioned type of feedback is typically referred to as “downward feedback” because the conversation stems from the top and flows downward.</p><div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/360-degree-feedback-the-full-circle" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Young%20partners%20discussing%20in%20meeting%20at%20creative%20office.jpeg" alt="Team working together to discuss performance reviews for their 360-degree review" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<p>When organizations first began the process of performance evaluations or appraisals, the feedback typically flows from the top-down and ends there. Supervisors provide feedback to their direct reports, often times individual contributors. This leaves a lot to be desired, not only is the expectation that the supervisor has a thorough grasp on the work that the subordinate does (and remembers it), but the supervisor is also left unchecked for how the working relationship is going from the viewpoint of the subordinate. The aforementioned type of feedback is typically referred to as “downward feedback” because the conversation stems from the top and flows downward.</p>
<img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=3835279&amp;k=14&amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vairkko.com%2Fblog%2F360-degree-feedback-the-full-circle&amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.vairkko.com%252Fblog&amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; ">HR ManagementOperations ManagementTraining ManagementWorkforce ManagementTue, 09 Apr 2019 13:35:00 GMThttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/360-degree-feedback-the-full-circle2019-04-09T13:35:00ZVAIRKKOWhat is Talent Management?https://www.vairkko.com/blog/what-is-talent-management
<div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/what-is-talent-management" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Smiling%20designers%20working%20together%20at%20their%20desk.jpeg" alt="Team working together to build a talent management system" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<p>Talent Management, as defined by Wikipedia, is “the anticipation of required human capital for an organization and the planning to meet those needs.” That sounds a lot like what Human Resources does in an organization. But understanding the nuances between these two functions is imperative to better understanding your employees and meeting their needs on the job.</p><div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/what-is-talent-management" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Smiling%20designers%20working%20together%20at%20their%20desk.jpeg" alt="Team working together to build a talent management system" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<p>Talent Management, as defined by Wikipedia, is “the anticipation of required human capital for an organization and the planning to meet those needs.” That sounds a lot like what Human Resources does in an organization. But understanding the nuances between these two functions is imperative to better understanding your employees and meeting their needs on the job.</p>
<img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=3835279&amp;k=14&amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vairkko.com%2Fblog%2Fwhat-is-talent-management&amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.vairkko.com%252Fblog&amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; ">HR ManagementOperations ManagementTraining ManagementWorkforce ManagementTue, 02 Apr 2019 13:30:00 GMThttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/what-is-talent-management2019-04-02T13:30:00ZVAIRKKOWhat is Rater Bias?https://www.vairkko.com/blog/what-is-rater-bias
<div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/what-is-rater-bias" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Collegues%20working%20together%20in%20an%20office.jpeg" alt="Colleagues working through performance evaluations." class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<p>Businesses create processes and standards by which their employees are measured against to ensure that employees understand their role and job function, are competent in that role, and ultimately are an asset to the organization. This process is typically referred to as performance management. The idea of performance management and a review process is theoretically a good one. The best way to measure an employee’s performance is by asking their managers, peers, and subordinates how exactly the employee is performing in their job, what they can improve upon, and what they have mastered. Performance reviews can sometimes go as far as to determine when someone is up for a promotion or a raise - although tying reviews with compensation can be tricky (more on that in another blog).</p><div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/what-is-rater-bias" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Collegues%20working%20together%20in%20an%20office.jpeg" alt="Colleagues working through performance evaluations." class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<p>Businesses create processes and standards by which their employees are measured against to ensure that employees understand their role and job function, are competent in that role, and ultimately are an asset to the organization. This process is typically referred to as performance management. The idea of performance management and a review process is theoretically a good one. The best way to measure an employee’s performance is by asking their managers, peers, and subordinates how exactly the employee is performing in their job, what they can improve upon, and what they have mastered. Performance reviews can sometimes go as far as to determine when someone is up for a promotion or a raise - although tying reviews with compensation can be tricky (more on that in another blog).</p>
<img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=3835279&amp;k=14&amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vairkko.com%2Fblog%2Fwhat-is-rater-bias&amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.vairkko.com%252Fblog&amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; ">HR ManagementOperations ManagementWorkforce ManagementTue, 26 Mar 2019 13:15:00 GMThttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/what-is-rater-bias2019-03-26T13:15:00ZVAIRKKODesigning a Performance Evaluation for the First Timehttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/designing-a-performance-evaluation-for-the-first-time
<div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/designing-a-performance-evaluation-for-the-first-time" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Broker%20making%20a%20presentation%20to%20a%20young%20couple%20showing%20them%20a%20document%20which%20they%20are%20viewing%20with%20serious%20expressions.jpeg" alt="Performance evaluation meeting between coworkers and manager" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<p>Performance Evaluations can be tough to create, especially for the first time. If building off of a process that’s already in place, it’s easy to identify holes and areas of improvement to continue working towards a performance evaluation process that works for your organization’s culture and goals. However, building one from scratch can be significantly harder. Other than the obvious suggestion to remember that this process is iterative and can continue to be improved upon, the closer that you can get to an end result the first time around will help to ensure consistency over the years when evaluating an employee that has been around for that whole time.</p><div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/designing-a-performance-evaluation-for-the-first-time" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Broker%20making%20a%20presentation%20to%20a%20young%20couple%20showing%20them%20a%20document%20which%20they%20are%20viewing%20with%20serious%20expressions.jpeg" alt="Performance evaluation meeting between coworkers and manager" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<p>Performance Evaluations can be tough to create, especially for the first time. If building off of a process that’s already in place, it’s easy to identify holes and areas of improvement to continue working towards a performance evaluation process that works for your organization’s culture and goals. However, building one from scratch can be significantly harder. Other than the obvious suggestion to remember that this process is iterative and can continue to be improved upon, the closer that you can get to an end result the first time around will help to ensure consistency over the years when evaluating an employee that has been around for that whole time.</p>
<img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=3835279&amp;k=14&amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vairkko.com%2Fblog%2Fdesigning-a-performance-evaluation-for-the-first-time&amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.vairkko.com%252Fblog&amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; ">HR ManagementOperations ManagementWorkforce ManagementTue, 19 Mar 2019 13:30:00 GMThttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/designing-a-performance-evaluation-for-the-first-time2019-03-19T13:30:00ZVAIRKKOPerformance Management in 140 Characters or Lesshttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/performance-management-in-140-characters-or-less
<p>In today’s Twitter-world, we don’t have time to read lengthy articles about processes that we should already know about. Unfamiliar with Performance Management? Here are three bite-sized definitions to help you get a little insight into performance management.</p><p>In today’s Twitter-world, we don’t have time to read lengthy articles about processes that we should already know about. Unfamiliar with Performance Management? Here are three bite-sized definitions to help you get a little insight into performance management.</p>
<img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=3835279&amp;k=14&amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vairkko.com%2Fblog%2Fperformance-management-in-140-characters-or-less&amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.vairkko.com%252Fblog&amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; ">HR ManagementOperations ManagementWorkforce ManagementTue, 12 Mar 2019 13:13:00 GMThttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/performance-management-in-140-characters-or-less2019-03-12T13:13:00ZVAIRKKOLearning Management Systems Explained in 140 Characters or Lesshttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/learning-management-systems-explained-in-140-characters-or-less
<span></span>
<span></span>
<p>We came up with four different options to explain a learning management system in 140 characters or less:</p><span></span>
<span></span>
<p>We came up with four different options to explain a learning management system in 140 characters or less:</p>
<img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=3835279&amp;k=14&amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vairkko.com%2Fblog%2Flearning-management-systems-explained-in-140-characters-or-less&amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.vairkko.com%252Fblog&amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; ">Training ManagementLearning Management Systeme-Learning CloudTue, 18 Dec 2018 14:15:00 GMThttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/learning-management-systems-explained-in-140-characters-or-less2018-12-18T14:15:00ZVAIRKKO3 Trends to Look Out for in Learning Management Systems in 2019https://www.vairkko.com/blog/3-trends-to-look-out-for-in-learning-management-systems-in-2019
<div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/3-trends-to-look-out-for-in-learning-management-systems-in-2019" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Pretty%20casual%20worker%20using%20oculus%20rift%20in%20her%20office.jpeg" alt="Worker using virtual reality to learn through training and development program" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<span></span>
<span></span>
<p>Technology changes so rapidly these days it’s hard to predict what will be next and how it - whatever “it” is - will shape the way that we live. Social media has impacted the way that we communicate with old friends, catch up on news, and even do business, but 10 years ago, social media had a completely different landscape.</p><div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/3-trends-to-look-out-for-in-learning-management-systems-in-2019" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Pretty%20casual%20worker%20using%20oculus%20rift%20in%20her%20office.jpeg" alt="Worker using virtual reality to learn through training and development program" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<span></span>
<span></span>
<p>Technology changes so rapidly these days it’s hard to predict what will be next and how it - whatever “it” is - will shape the way that we live. Social media has impacted the way that we communicate with old friends, catch up on news, and even do business, but 10 years ago, social media had a completely different landscape.</p>
<img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=3835279&amp;k=14&amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vairkko.com%2Fblog%2F3-trends-to-look-out-for-in-learning-management-systems-in-2019&amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.vairkko.com%252Fblog&amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; ">Training ManagementLearning Management Systeme-Learning CloudTue, 11 Dec 2018 14:20:00 GMThttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/3-trends-to-look-out-for-in-learning-management-systems-in-20192018-12-11T14:20:00ZVAIRKKOLearning Management Systems: Expectation vs. Realityhttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/learning-management-systems-expectation-vs.-reality
<div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/learning-management-systems-expectation-vs.-reality" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Students%20researching%20online%20at%20the%20library%20on%20computers.jpeg" alt="Employees taking their online learning courses with a learning management system" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<span></span>
<span></span>
<p>Growing up, my dad would always point out advertisements in a silly way. What I mean by this is: when he would see an advertisement for a tanning salon with really fit people, he would say “Wow, if I go in there - I’ll come out looking like that!” And he wasn’t just referring to the shade of the person’s skin. Advertisement is powerful and marketing departments work hard to showcase benefits - tangible or intangible, but sometimes that can set consumers up with high expectations that can’t be met. As much as I wish applying sunless tanner would then give me a six-pack, that’s an expectation that absolutely will come to actualization…. bummer.</p><div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.vairkko.com/blog/learning-management-systems-expectation-vs.-reality" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img src="https://www.vairkko.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Students%20researching%20online%20at%20the%20library%20on%20computers.jpeg" alt="Employees taking their online learning courses with a learning management system" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a>
</div>
<span></span>
<span></span>
<p>Growing up, my dad would always point out advertisements in a silly way. What I mean by this is: when he would see an advertisement for a tanning salon with really fit people, he would say “Wow, if I go in there - I’ll come out looking like that!” And he wasn’t just referring to the shade of the person’s skin. Advertisement is powerful and marketing departments work hard to showcase benefits - tangible or intangible, but sometimes that can set consumers up with high expectations that can’t be met. As much as I wish applying sunless tanner would then give me a six-pack, that’s an expectation that absolutely will come to actualization…. bummer.</p>
<img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=3835279&amp;k=14&amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vairkko.com%2Fblog%2Flearning-management-systems-expectation-vs.-reality&amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.vairkko.com%252Fblog&amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; ">Training ManagementLearning Management Systeme-Learning CloudTue, 04 Dec 2018 14:10:00 GMThttps://www.vairkko.com/blog/learning-management-systems-expectation-vs.-reality2018-12-04T14:10:00ZVAIRKKO